by duke » Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:04 pm
Sounds like I missed a good time. Wish I could have been there. I almost made it there on Saturday but had to turn around and head for home.
I know I owe an apology to Betsey for not helping with the shirts, and everyone else at least an explanation for my disappearance.
The last two months have been have been a nightmare for me and my family healhwise. I had a stroke in the airport Feb 26th returning from a family vacation in Las Vegas. Most likely a form of DVT (deep venous thrombosis) with a blood clot forming in my legs and going to my brain.
9 years ago I had a similar incident that was diagnosed as a TIA (transient ischemic attack) a "mini" stroke that was never fully explained. Fortunately, the daily aspirin and anti-clotting drug I have been taking since then and the quick response from the airport staff and paramedics saved me from the "big one".
This time round I had bettter care and a wonderful hemotologist that did more testing and gave me some answers. I have FVL (Factor V Leiden) a genetic disorder that interferes with blood clots naturally dissolving after they form and are no longer needed by the body.
I'm taking this as a wake up call (more like a slap upside the head with a dead fish) and taking the necessary steps with my doctors to prevent any problems in the future. I am now on a regimen of more powerful blood thinners, LMW Heparin for now (self injected, I HATE NEEDLES!) and will be switching to Coumadin (oral, thank God) in the near future, along with more exercise and quitting smoking.
Unfortunately, in my case, scar tissue in my brain from the two strokes has also brought on petite mal seizures. My drivers license has been suspended (voluntarily), and I cannot drive again until I go 90 days seizure free on my new anti-seizure meds (Currently down from my record of 12 in a 24 hr period to mabe one every other day as the meds are finally starting to kick in). Hope to be driving in time for the Camp-Inn Camp Out!
I had talked a metal detecting buddy into driving down with me to CNTL on Saturday at the last minute (my wife had to work) and we made it as far as Cleveland (WI, not OH) and stopped to investigate an old picnic grounds when I felt a seizure coming on (rushing sound in the ears, blurred vision) so we had to head back home.
On the upside, thanks to a supportive employer and some neat gadgets (new laptop, polarized monitor filters) I am back to work mostly full time, and I can work from home when the need arises. I am taking physical therapy for some lingering weakness on my left side, and occupational therapy for some cognitive side effects like short tenm memory loss and face/name linking (I get to meet the nicest people for the first time again and again) and have been making excellent progress I'm told and should be cut loose soon (at least thats what my insurance company tells me ha ha). Then its just a matter of time for the old grey matter to rewire itself around the short circuits.
I've been back out in the garage the last few days cleaning up and trying to "pick up the thread" on where I was with the teardrop build.
With the support of my wonderful family and friends I'm just taking it day by day and trying to pick up the pieces and get past this and back to a semblance of a normal life. Hope to see you all (again, or for the first time) at another outing soon.
Duke
There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure. - Mark Twain
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